Aquatic sporting device



y 16, 1963 c. D. COLLINS ,3

AQUATIC SPORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 INVENTOR. C'HARZFSD COLLDVS.

AGENT United States Patent Ofifice Patented July 16, 1963 3,097,377 AQUATIC SPORTING DEVICE Charles D. Collins, 114 Morningside Drive, New York, N .Y. Filed Jan. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,568 4 Claims. (Cl. 9313) My invention relates to an aquatic sporting device which may be readily secured to an object, particularly a person, to permit the same to be propelled through the water by means of oars, paddles used as cars, and the like.

In recent years there has been increasing interest in aquatic sports and a growing demand for devices useful therein, particularly at beaches. -In many cases the devices, such as small sailing boats, inflated mattresses, rafts, and surf boards, are so expensive and/or bulky that they have not found extensive use at beaches. On the other hand, the smaller and less expensive devices usually serve only to assist in keeping a person afloat, such as the ra fts, inflatable rubber rings, etc, and are not provided with self-propulsion means.

The main object of my invention is to provide an aquatic sporting device which can be readily attached to a person in order that he may propel himself through the water by means of suitable roar-s, or paddles, used as oars.

The further object of my invention is to provide a device which is inexpensive and is of such small size and weight that it may be readily transported to and from the beach.

A more specific object is to provide a device having extendable outriggers which may be retracted, particularly folded in, to make the device compact and readily transportable.

Further object-s and advantages of my invention will appear as the specifications progress.

The device according to my invention comprises a frame having means whereby it may be readily attached to an object, such as the body of a person, and supporting outriggers which extend from each side of the frame and are provided with supports for the oars or paddles at points spaced from the body at distances which depend upon the length of the oar used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the outriggers are Inovably supported from the frame, preferably hinged or pivoted, so that they may be retracted, when the device is not in use, to thereby form a readily transportable structure.

In some cases I provide the device with floats which not only increase the buoyancy of the device, but also improve the stability thereof.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect I shall describe the same in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device of FIG. 1 showing a fastening device, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another type of fastening device.

The device shown in the drawing comprises a frame or support of rectangular shape and formed of two side members 11 and 12, two end members 13 and 14, and a transverse reenforcing and supporting member 15. Secured to frame 10 are four supporting blocks 16. Frame 10 may be made of various materials and in one or several pieces, but I prefer to make it of buoyant material, particularly wood which for appearance and durability has been finished by sanding, filing and the application of several coats of spar varnish.

Pivotedly supported from blocks 16, one at each end of frame 10 are two outriggers 17 made of wood, but which may be of various shapes and materials, such as plastic or non-corrosive metal. Outrigger 17 are hinged to blocks 16 by means of hinges 18 of suitable corrosionresisting material, such as bronze. Outriggers 17 are supported in the inclined position shown by means of supporting blocks 19 secured to end members 13 and 14 and are held in position by suitable latches or hooks 20 (see FIG. 3). By making blocks 19 interchangeable and of various heights one can readily adjust the inclination of outriggers 17. Provided at the outer end of each of th outriggers 17 are means for supporting oars, shown as thole pins 21 and loops of rope 34 passing through holes in outriggers 17, which serve .to keep the cars in place. Other suitable means, such as oarlocks may, of course, be used. Outriggers 17 are preferably given a length slightly less than one half the distance between hinges 18 in order that they may be folded into the closed positions against member 15, as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, and thereby make the device very compact.

The device includes means whereby it may be readily attached crosswise a person using the same and for this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided with straps 22 and 23, for instance of woven nylon, adapted to be secured around the waist and thighs respectively of a person (not shown). Strap 22 has one end fixedly secured at 24 to member 12 and extends around the waist of the person through a slot 25 in member 12 to one of three fastening devices 26 secured by screws to the frame. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4 each of the fastening devices 26, which are of non-corrosive metal such as brass, comprising a plate provided with a pin 28, a loop 27, and a slot 29. The end of strap 22 is provided with several spaced holes whereby it is secured in an adjustable manner to pin 28 with its end passing through loop 27. Similarly strap 23 is secured at its center 30 to member 12, whereas its end portions pass around the thighs of the person and through slots 25 in member 11 to fastening devices 26. A simpler and less expensive type fastening device which does not use metal is shown in FIG. 5 and consists of a Wooden pin 32 and a strap 33, for instance of canvas, secured to member 12.

While the device may be made of various sizes, fior instance a small size for teen-agers and a larger size for adults, I have found that particularly good results are obtained when the frame 10 is given a length of about 24 inches or about equal to the width of the person and the outriggers 17 extend beyond the frame at a distance of about 6 or 7 inches. The width of the frame should be about 10 inces in order to obtain a proper spacing so that the straps 22 and 23 can be readily secured around the waist and thighs of the person using the device. When the outriggers are folded inwardly the entire device makes a very compact and light structure which may be readily transported.

In general the device described will have suflicient buoyancy to float and to give some support to a nonswimmer. However, in cases where additional buoyancy is desired I secure one to each side member 13 and 14, a float 31 which may be airtight hollow containers made of plastic balloons, or pieces of a material having a high buoyancy, such as cork. These floats are also helpful in stabilizing, i.e. maintaining the device in the proper position.

My device is also suitable for use in connection with the temporary propulsion of canoes by oars, in which case the straps 22 and 23 are dispensed with and the frame is provided near each end with suitable clamping devices whereby it can be attached to the gunwale of the canoe at each side of center Where a low seat may be placed.

While I have described my invention in connection with specific examples I do not desire to be limited thereto as obvious modifications of both structures and materials will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art and in accordance with the facilities available in the shop where the device is made.

What I claim is:

-1. A harness-like aquatic sporting device adapted to be attached to a person to permit self-propulsion on or through the water by means of oars, paddles and the like, comprising a supporting member having a Width substantially less than the length of the person and a length approximately the same as the width of the person, means on said member for attaching the member to the person with the length thereof extending crosswise to the person, pivot means on both ends of said supporting member, two Outriggers each having one end secured to said pivot means, and means at the free ends of said Outriggers for supporting oars or paddles.

2. A harness-like aquatic sporting device adapted to be attached to a person to permit self-propulsion on or through the Water by means of oars, paddles and the like, comprising a member having a width substantially less than the length of the person and a length approximately the same as the width of the person, means for attaching the member to the person with the length thereof extending cross-wise to the person, said attaching means including strap members secured to said supporting member at points spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the waist and thighs of the person, pivot means on both ends of said member, two Outriggers each having a length less than about one-half the length of the member and one end secured to said pivot means, and means for supporting oars at the free ends of said Outriggers.

3. A harness-like aquatic sporting device adapted to be attached to a person to permit propulsion on or through the water by means of oars, paddles and the like, comprising a supporting member having a width substantially the same as the distance between the waist and thighs of the person and a length approximately the same as the width of the person, means for attaching the member to the person with the length thereof extending cross-wise to the person, said attaching means including a strap member secured near to one side edge of said member and adapted to encircle the waist of the person and tWo straps secured near the opposite side edge of the member and each adapted to encircle one thigh of the person, pivot means on both ends of said member, two Outriggers each having a length slightly less than one-half the length of the member and one end secured to said pivot means, and means for supporting oars at the free ends of said Outriggers.

4. A harness-like aquatic sporting device adapted to be attached to a person to permit propulsion on or through the water by means of oars, paddles and the like, comprising outrigger supporting means including pivots, means for securing the device to the person with the length thereof extending cross-wise the person and including straps spaced apart a distance approximately the same as the distance between the thighs and Waist of the person, two Outriggers each having one end secured to said pivots and having operative positions to the sides of the person, and means at the free ends of said outriggers for supporting oars, paddles and the like, said device having an overall width approximately the same as the distance between the thighs and the waist of the person and an overall length with the Outriggers in the operative positions greater than the width of the person.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 234,164 Armstrong Nov. 9, 1880 1,324,687 Newby Dec. 9, 1919 1,625,579 Walters Apr. 19, 1927 1,752,630 Brown Apr. 1, 1930 2,042,152 Howland May 26, 1936 2,946,068 Jasper July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 182,968 Great Britain July 20, 1922 1,050,963 France Sept. 9, 1953 888,963 Germany Sept. 7, 1953 1,082,542 France June 16, 1954 

1. A HARNESS-LIKE AQUATIC SPORTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A PERSON TO PERMIT SELF-PROPULSION ON OR THROUGH THE WATER BY TO PERMIT SELF-PROPULSION ON OR LIKE, COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE PERSON AND A LENGTH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS THE WIDTH OF THE PERSON, MEANS ON SAID MEMBER FOR ATTACHING THE MEMBER TO THE PERSON WITH THE LENGTH THEREOF EXTENDING CROSSWISE TO THE PERSON, PIVOT MEANS ON BOTH ENDS OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, TWO OUTRIGGERS EACH HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID PIVOT MEANS, AND MEANS AT THE FREE ENDS OF SAID OUTRIGGERS FOR SUPPORTING OARS OR PADDLES. 